39: Fish 'n Chips at Rula Bula

We're working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella's 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley -- in no particular order

Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section.

Visit our sister blog, Jackalope Ranch, for a companion series on 100 Creatives who make Phoenix a little more interesting for all of us. We'll be posting the next 38 picks daily through the rest of the summer.

When I chatted with Rula Bula owner Steve Goumas about the Tempe restaurant's fish 'n chips (which are also served at West Valley sister eatery Lis Doon Varna), he told me about how he orders special cod for the dish, and how the kitchen hand-cuts the filets, batters them to order, and serves them with homemade tartar sauce.

"Our kitchen staff puts in a big effort for such a simple dish," he explained.

The attention shows.

As one of the top Irish pubs in the city, Rula Bula is sure to be in the spotlight for a must-have like fish 'n chips, and I've come back again and again to get my fill of such a stellar rendition. Who wants to drink Guinness all by itself? I mean, it is a meal in a glass, but I can't get a whiff of the golden fried fish and crispy, perfect chips and not have a plate all to myself.